Aircraft carrying organs to now get top priority

To facilitate quick transportation of organs, aircraft carrying human cadaveric organs for transplant will be allowed to take off and land on a priority basisSumitra Debroy | TNN | December 12, 2016, 08:12 IST

MUMBAI: Aircraft carrying human cadaveric organs for transplant will be allowed to take off and land on a priority basis, according to the first set of standard operating procedures (SOPs) drafted by the Bureau of Civic Aviation Security (BCAS) to facilitate quick transportation of organs.

It also states that organs could be exempted from X-ray screening to avoid radiation exposure. Stakeholders are upset that there is no mention of capping the airfares, that is often arbitrary, exorbitant, and currently the biggest hurdle in organ sharing within cities and between states.

The SOPs prepared by the aviation ministry in collaboration with the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) is the first attempt to standardise practices for transportation of human organs by air across the country.

The SOPs outline the procedures in relation to the labelling, packaging and storage of organs, necessary to maximise safety of travellers and avoid any risks to the organ. Among other pertinent points, the norms also delve into designing a see-through package that will make it easier for the airport security personnel to check the container without opening it.

Airlines have been entrusted with clear responsibilities to avoid any delay once the organ has reached the airport.

The SOPs are supposed to be implemented with immediate effect. The norms were conveyed to the managing directors of all major domestic airports, security officers and representatives of the private airlines in a meeting held on November 25 by the Civil Aviation ministry.

Additional deputy director general Dr Anil Kumar said that the NOTTO had written to several ministries to aid in organ transportation. “BCAS was the first one to respond and formulate the guidelines. The idea is to have standard practices for the country rather than following general international guidelines.

Priority take off and landing alone can save more than 20-25 precious minutes,” he said.